What is Professional Coaching?

The International Coach Federation defines professional coaching as:

“Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful …”

The coach’s responsibility is to:

• Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
• Encourage client self-discovery
• Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
• Hold the client responsible and accountable

This process helps clients dramatically improve their outlook on work and life, while improving their leadership skills and unlocking their potential.  Christian coaching integrates the authority of Scripture with the Spirit to draw out the purposes/callings God has placed in our hearts to help the person being coached live more fully aligned with who they were created to be.

Is Coaching Right for You?

Coaching is all about growth while counseling is about healing.  Coaching is forward looking while counseling looks to the past for insights to help facilitate healing.  The coaching process is about discovering and acting on insights toward the goals the client or organization has.  This process involves the coach challenging the client and helping hold them accountable for progress.  Thus, coaching is not appropriate when healing is needed before focusing on growth.

The International Coach Federation shares the following:

“To determine whether you or your company could benefit from coaching, start by summarizing what you would expect to accomplish in coaching. When an individual or business has a … clear idea of the desired outcome, a coaching partnership can be a useful tool for developing a strategy for how to achieve that outcome with greater ease.  Since coaching is a partnership, ask yourself whether collaboration, other viewpoints, and new perspectives are valued. Also, ask yourself whether you or your business is ready to devote the time and the energy to making real changes. If the answer is yes, then coaching may be a beneficial way to grow and develop.”

What is Different from Other Fields?

Perhaps this example will help illustrate the difference.

A person wants to ride a bike, and they are unsure about the next step, so they ask the following people what to do:

• • Counselor:       “Where is the hesitation, what is making you fearful of riding a bike?”
  • Mentor:            “Watch me and I will show you what to do.”
  • Consultant:      “Here is a list of the things you need to do and fix; here is the manual”
  • Coach:               “Where do you want to go?”

Contact Genesis Today to Learn More about Life & Leadership Coaching

Our certified coaches will work with you and/or your organization to achieve your goals.